Can you explain abstract classes in Python?

Can you explain abstract classes in Python?

Sure! An abstract class in Python is a class that cannot be instantiated and is meant to be subclassed. It can contain abstract methods that must be implemented by any subclass.

What is the purpose of using abstract classes?

The purpose of abstract classes is to provide a blueprint for other classes. They allow you to define methods that must be created within any child classes built from the abstract class.

Can you give me an example of an abstract class?

Of course! Here's a simple example:

from abc import ABC, abstractmethod

class Animal(ABC):
    @abstractmethod
    def sound(self):
        pass

class Dog(Animal):
    def sound(self):
        return 'Bark'

class Cat(Animal):
    def sound(self):
        return 'Meow'

In this example, Animal is an abstract class with an abstract method sound. The Dog and Cat classes implement this method.

What happens if a subclass doesn't implement the abstract methods?

If a subclass does not implement all the abstract methods, it cannot be instantiated, and you'll get a TypeError when you try to create an object of that subclass.